Stoney Creek Generals hosting Poland’s National Team

The two-time defending Allan Cup Hockey (ACH) Robertson Cup Champion Stoney Creek Generals will be hosting Poland’s National Men’s Team, coached by former NHL Coach Ted Nolan, on Friday, Dec. 8, 2017 at 8:00 p.m at the Gateway Ice Centre in Stoney Creek. Tickets for this International exhibition game are available at the door and are only $12 (general admission), and kids under 12 are free. The Generals are also holding a food drive on Friday night supporting the Stoney Creek Community Food Bank, non-perishable items are greatly appreciated.

Nolan, who won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL Coach of the Year in 1996-97 with the Buffalo Sabres, was named Head Coach for Poland’s National Men’s Team this past summer and brought in Tom Coolen as one of his Assistant Coaches. Nolan and Coolen coached together with the Buffalo Sabres in 2014-15 and with the Latvian National Team from 2012 to 2015. Last season Coolen was Head Coach of the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts who won the 2017 Allan Cup in Bouctouche, NB. It was there that Coolen had the chance to see the Stoney Creek Generals play and when Poland was looking for teams to play in Canada he thought the Generals would provide a competitive game.

The Stoney Creek Generals, coached by Bryan Hamm, are once again on top of the ACH standings as the 2017-18 season approaches the half-way mark with a record of 8-2-0. The Generals’ high flying offense is averaging 6.2 goals per game, led by the Donati twins, Justin and Tyler who both have 17 points on the season to lead the league. Six of the league’s top eight scorers play for Stoney Creek, including Matt Dzieduszycki and Rob Hisey who both have 15 points, and Nathan Pageau and Cam Fergus with 13 points apiece.

Generals’ Assistant Coach & General Manager Tony Falasca expects Poland to be a very sound hockey team under Coach Ted Nolan and is looking forward to the game, saying: “I think this will be a great opportunity to promote the Stoney Creek Generals and the other teams in our area.”

Brent Ladds, ACH Commissioner said: “The Allan Cup Hockey League is proud of the undertaking by the Generals organization to host this game. As the two year consecutive champions of the ACH, we are sure that the Generals and the Polish Nationals will provide a meaningful game and great entertainment for the fans.”

OHA President Karen Phibbs said: “As an organization, the OHA is thrilled to have the Stoney Creek Generals, Allan Cup Hockey League Champions, hosting the Polish National Team this Friday in Stoney Creek. If fans haven’t experienced an international game, this is a great opportunity to be part of an exciting, international experience.”

Following their game in Stoney Creek, Poland has two other stops on their Canadian tour: on Sunday, December 10 they will be in Fredericton, NB to face the two-time defending U SPORTS University Cup Champion UNB Varsity Reds, followed by a game in Bouctouche, NB on Wednesday, December 13 against a North East Senior Hockey League All Star Team.

Poland is currently ranked 20th in the IIHF World Rankings and will battle for promotion to the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship next spring at the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division I Group A in Budapest against Slovenia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Hungary and Great Britain with the top-two teams qualifying for the 2019 Worlds in Slovakia.

For the Stoney Creek Generals, they have their sights set on their third straight ACH Robertson Cup Championship and a third consecutive trip to the Allan Cup, which is being hosted in Rosetown, April 9-14, 2018.